Hannibal Lecter is easily one of the most iconic characters in film history. Originated by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, which swept the major awards at the Oscars, Lecter has since appeared in prequels, sequels, and a small screen television reboot. Now, the other main character from Jonathan Demme's iconic movie is getting a new story.
CBS series Clarice, which serves as a sequel to Lambs but takes place before Hannibal, has gotten an official premiere date in February 2021 along with a brief teaser. While the footage doesn't show much of Rebecca Breeds as the successor to Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore, it does evoke the dark feel of the feature films.
Here's the plot: Clarice is a deep dive into the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, one year after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice’s bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. However, her complex psychological makeup that comes from a challenging childhood empowers her to begin to find her voice while working in a man’s world, as well as escape the family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life.
As a fan of NBC's series Hannibal starring Mads Mikkelsen as the cannibalistic Doctor Lecter, I can say that Clarice has a high bar to hurdle. After all, Bryan Fuller's series was one of the most hauntingly beautiful series in television history. With CBS having a long history of police procedurals, I just hope that this show doesn't turn out to be yet another CSI or NCIS.